By:Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Liberty and Justice for Prosperity (LJP) Leader Simona Brooms is calling on the Government of Guyana to immediately establish a clear, transparent, and countrywide vending policy, arguing that the chaos unfolding at Stabroek Market could have been avoided with proper governance and respect for livelihoods.
Her comments come one day after vendors at the Stabroek Market Square were blindsided by the sudden erection of construction barriers as part of a government-led beautification project—forcing many of them to abruptly relocate during the peak Christmas shopping period.
“Where do these people go?”
Speaking passionately on the issue, Brooms questioned the Government’s approach:
“Who will be disrupted? Is there a place for you? Where do these people go?”
She said vending must be recognised as a legitimate means of earning, not treated as an inconvenience or a criminal activity.
‘We need policy, not confusion’
Brooms said that the lack of communication and coordination reflects deeper governance failures:
“We have national, regional, and local levels of governance. If all three were guided by proper policy, what happened at Stabroek Square would never have occurred.”
She argued that the Stabroek disruption exposed a glaring absence of structured guidance on:
- where vendors are allowed to operate
- how they should register
- how enforcement should occur
- how vendors should be relocated when development works occur
Brooms insisted that Guyana deserves a fair, consistent, and empowering vending framework—one that prevents harassment, sudden displacement, and political interference.
Beautification must not come at the expense of livelihoods
While supporting a cleaner, more organised city, Brooms stressed the need for humane and inclusive planning.
“Am I against order? No. Do I believe we need organised vending? Yes. The city needs beautification—yes. But how are we going to do it?”
The LJP leader said her party’s blueprint for prosperity underscores the importance of economic participation for small vendors and micro-entrepreneurs, urging systems that are:
- fair
- structured
- supportive
- non-punitive
She warned that without proper policies, development will continue to come at the cost of people’s livelihoods.
